Banking and Finance - 224 - Master's Year 2

After graduating in 2014, I now have sufficient hindsight to judge that the choice to enroll in the Banking and Finance program during my final year was the right one. While it is a generalist program, it also gives students the opportunity to focus their module choices on either corporate finance, market finance or asset management. In terms of my experience, the courses I took in asset allocation and portfolio management reconfirmed my interest in pursuing a career in asset management, as well as providing the ideal preparation for transitioning into the working world. I joined the Carmignac team for my final year internship, where I was subsequently hired as a Fixed Income Product Specialist. The Banking and Finance program equipped me with all the skills and knowledge I needed to carry out my role and succeed within this function, which is situated at the intersection between the management and sales teams, and which required both technical and commercial skills. Its comprehensive and intensive curriculum, the unparalleled access to the teaching faculty, a network of more than 1,000 alumni and a vibrant student life, all contribute to make this a top-rated training program.

I graduated in 2010, at a time when the market for graduate jobs within Finance was proving to be much more difficult than expected. Seeing that Master's graduates who had focused on a particular profession were still looking for employment several months after completing their studies, the Banking and Finance program seemed to be the most sensible option. This generalist program enabled me to position myself effectively for my future career. Mergers and Acquisitions, Credit Analysis, Multi-asset Fund Manager, Trader, Management Control, Audit, Internal Audit... these are just some of the many careers my fellow graduates moved into, who were all from the same training program. The teaching delivered within the different modules was invaluable to me, particularly as I decided to apply to graduate programs abroad. This led me, almost 6 years ago now, to joining the Debt Capital Markets (or DCM) department at J.P. Morgan in London. I had the opportunity to spend 2 years in the New York office, still within DCM, and I am currently based in London once again, within the Syndicated Finance team. The training I received during the Banking and Finance program meant that I could maintain a certain level of flexibility, as well as pursuing an interest in several different career paths within Finance, which has definitely been a valuable asset, not only in securing my first role, but also throughout the early stages of my career. I cannot recommend this program enough to any student seeking a training program that is renowned within the job market, that has a strong alumni network, and that above all gives you flexibility along with high-quality, multidisciplinary teaching delivered by professionals in the field. 

After taking a gap year, I became aware of the wide range of careers on offer within Finance, but I didn’t feel ready to choose a specialty. What I really wanted was an “à la carte” training program, which would be more focused on practical application than technical aspects.

 

When I saw the options offered by the Banking and Finance program, it was clear that I need search no more. It had a vast range of courses on offer, combining financial markets, corporate finance and banking strategy, all delivered with the perfect balance of theory and practical application.

 

Today, I can happily say that I have absolutely no regrets regarding my choice, as upon completing my studies I had all the tools at my disposal to successfully complete an 18 month VIE (International Internship Program) in New York, right in the middle of the recession.

After graduating from the Banking and Finance program in 2011, Anaïs began her professional career with an internship in Credit Analysis at BPCE.

While she was gaining experience in banking, Anaïs was soon approached by the audit and consulting firm Deloitte regarding a permanent position, which she took up in September 2011.

Since then, Anaïs has played an active role in audit assignments for major banks, in an environment where banking regulation is ever-present and a key determining factor when it comes to strategic decision-making. The Banking and Finance program provided her with theoretical knowledge that has been fundamental to carrying out this role within a leading firm in the banking audit field.